North East pitmen sacked during the bitter miners' strike
could claim pension payments.

Government chiefs have agreed to make pension payments to a number
of former workers who lost their jobs during their one-year dispute.

The news comes after a near 20-year fight for full pension payments
for those men who were sacked for strike-related offences.

Officials from the National Union of Mineworkers said some of its
members could receive up to pounds 20,000 to compensate them for years
of service they lost after they were dismissed during the 1984/1985
strike.

The Department of Trade and Industry said it had agreed to 137
claims, while a further 21 have been disallowed because of the nature of
the offences involved.

NUM chairman Ian Lavery, based in Northumberland, said: "It is
a step in the right direction but we will continue campaigning for all
the men, up to 1,200, to be compensated in full."

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